$22 / month
Talk & Text
- Nationwide calling
- Unlimited texting
- No data included
2 months for $60 $35 plan · 30 GB
Tourist SIM card in Calgary, working in about 10 minutes.
Just landed at YYC? Skip the roaming bill. A prepaid Chatr SIM from Greattel gives you Canadian data for maps, Banff day trips, and WhatsApp home — pay upfront, no credit check, no contract, and no Canadian ID needed beyond your passport.
No credit check
No contract
Passport is all the ID you need
Free in-store activation
Visitor SIM plans
Prepaid SIM plans for tourists in Calgary.
Every Chatr plan includes nationwide calling and unlimited texting on the Rogers network. Data totals below include the Auto-Pay bonus, so the number you see is the number you get. Pay for one month at a time — when your trip ends, you simply stop.
How long is your trip? Tap one — we’ll highlight the plans that fit.
$25 / month
5 GB
- Nationwide calling
- Unlimited texting
- Fast 4G data
- Enough for a long weekend of maps & messages
$30 / month
15 GB
- Nationwide calling
- Unlimited texting
- Fast 4G data
- A comfortable fit for a week in Calgary & Banff
$35 / month
30 GB
- Nationwide calling
- Unlimited texting
- Fast 4G data
- 2 months for $60 in store
- Room for photos & video from the Rockies
$40 / month
50 GB
- Nationwide calling
- Unlimited texting
- Fast 4G data
- For heavy uploaders & hotspot sharing
Showing a match for a few weeks / lots of video: the $35 / 30 GB plan. Change the selector above to compare the lighter plans.
Staying in Canada for the year?
40 GB for the year on Fast 4G — one payment, no monthly top-up to remember.
$159 / year · 40 GB
Reserve the annual plan
Just need calls & texts for a long stay?
A full year of nationwide talk & text, paid once. Add data later if your plans change.
$100 / year · Talk & Text
Reserve the $100/year plan
Plans are 4G only. Auto-Pay bonuses are already counted in the data totals above. Prefer to compare every plan first? See the full list on the prepaid plans page.
How it works
Land at YYC, visit a store, leave connected.
There’s no Greattel store inside the airport — and no airport kiosk markup either. Our three Calgary stores sell the same SIMs at the same prices, and the whole visit takes about 10 minutes:
- Reserve ahead, or just walk inReserve your SIM on this page before you fly and it will be waiting at the store you pick — or walk in any time, no appointment needed.
- Bring your passport and your unlocked phoneThat’s the full list. No Canadian ID, no credit history, no SIN — prepaid means no credit check.
- We activate it and check it worksStaff set up the SIM in store, free, and confirm your data, maps, and WhatsApp are running before you head out.
- Pay upfront — $60 covers 2 months of the $35 planOr pick any other plan and pay for a single month. No contract, so when your trip ends, you’re done.
Data guide for visitors
How much data do you need for Calgary & Banff?
Maps and navigation sip data — a full day of driving directions to Banff and back uses less than most people expect. Photos and video are what eat data: uploads, video calls home, and streaming. Match your trip length to a plan:
5 GB · $25 plan
A long weekend in Calgary
Three or four days of city exploring.
- Maps & transit all day
- WhatsApp, email & social
- Photos shared on hotel Wi-Fi
15 GB · $30 plan
About a week, with a Banff day trip
The comfortable middle ground for most visitors.
- Everything in the 5 GB trip
- Navigation out to Banff & Canmore
- Photo uploads as you go
- Video calls home
30 GB · $35 plan
Two to three weeks, or lots of video
For longer Rockies trips and heavy sharers.
- Everything in the 15 GB trip
- Video uploads from the mountains
- Streaming & hotspot sharing
- 2 months for $60 in store
Not sure? Start with the $35 / 30 GB plan — it’s the best value per gigabyte, and prepaid means you can switch to a lighter plan next month if you stay longer.
What to bring
Two things: your passport and an unlocked phone.
That’s genuinely the whole list. Because the plans are prepaid, there’s no credit check, no Canadian credit history, and no SIN (Social Insurance Number) needed — you pay upfront and the SIM is yours for the month.
- Your passportPhoto ID is all we ask for. You don’t need a Canadian address, visa paperwork beyond your passport, or a local bank account.
- An unlocked phoneYour phone must not be locked to your home carrier. Most recent iPhone, Samsung, and Pixel phones work on Canadian 4G — staff check yours in store before activating.
- A way to pay upfrontOne month at a time, or $60 for two months of the $35 plan. No contract and no bill arriving after you fly home.
- Your home SIM, if you use WhatsAppWhatsApp stays registered to your home number even on a Canadian SIM. Dual-SIM phone? Keep both in — home SIM for WhatsApp, Chatr SIM for data.
Why Chatr, through Greattel
A Canada SIM for tourists, without the runaround.
No credit check, no contract
No Canadian credit history needed and nothing to sign. Prepaid means prepaid — pay for the month, use it, done.
On the Rogers network
Chatr runs on the Rogers network, with coverage across Calgary and on the highway out to Banff and Canmore.
Working in about 10 minutes
Your SIM is activated and tested in store — maps, data, and apps confirmed before you walk out.
Keep WhatsApp on your home number
Your chats and groups stay exactly as they are. The Canadian SIM just provides the data connection.
One upfront price
The price on the plan is the price — no roaming surprises and no bill after your trip. Activation is free in store.
Easy to top up or stop
Staying longer? Top up another month in store. Flying home? Just stop — there’s no contract to cancel.
Visit a store
Three Calgary stores where visitors can buy a SIM.
All three stores sell the same plans at the same prices, including the $35 / 2 months for $60 offer. TD Core is the downtown store — a handy stop if you’re staying or sightseeing downtown. Tap a store for its address, phone, and hours, or browse all locations.
Chatr TD Core Mall
Downtown Calgary — TD Core Mall
- Address751 3 St SW, Unit C124, Calgary, AB T2P 4K8
- Phone(825) 210-9302
- Good forDowntown visitors — inside TD Core Mall, an easy stop while you’re sightseeing or between hotel check-in and dinner.
- Store pageTD Core store details →
| Monday – Saturday | 10:00 am – 6:00 pm |
| Sunday | 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm |
Hours can change on holidays — call ahead if you’re making a special trip.
Visitor SIM FAQ
Questions tourists ask before they buy a SIM in Calgary.
Can tourists buy a SIM card in Canada?
Yes. Visitors can buy a prepaid SIM card in Canada with no Canadian ID, no Canadian credit history, and no contract. At Greattel’s Calgary Chatr stores you pay upfront, the SIM is activated in store in about 10 minutes, and you can use it right away for maps, calls, and apps.
What ID do I need to buy a tourist SIM card in Calgary?
Bring your passport as photo ID and an unlocked phone. That is all you need — prepaid plans have no credit check, so you do not need a Canadian address, a Social Insurance Number (SIN), or a Canadian bank account.
Will my phone work with a Canadian SIM card?
Your phone needs to be unlocked — not tied to your home carrier — and able to connect to Canadian 4G networks. Most recent iPhone, Samsung, and Google Pixel phones work. Staff check your phone in store before activation, and if it is locked, your home carrier can usually unlock it.
How much data do I need for a week in Calgary and Banff?
For about a week of maps, messaging, and photo sharing, 15 GB is comfortable for most visitors. If you upload a lot of video from Banff and the Rockies, or share photos all day, the 30 GB plan for $35 gives you room to spare. Maps and navigation use very little data — photos and video use the most. See the data guide above for a breakdown by trip length.
Can I keep WhatsApp on my home number with a tourist SIM?
Yes. WhatsApp stays registered to your home number even when you travel with a different SIM — your chats, groups, and contacts keep working over the data on your Canadian SIM. If your phone takes two SIMs, you can keep your home SIM in for WhatsApp and calls while the Chatr SIM handles data.
Can I buy a SIM card at Calgary airport (YYC)?
Greattel does not have a store inside Calgary International Airport (YYC). Our three Chatr stores are in the city — TD Core downtown, Hunterhorn Plaza in the NE, and Forest Lawn in the SE — and any of them can have you connected in about 10 minutes. You can reserve a SIM before you fly and pick it up when you arrive.
How long does it take to activate a visitor SIM card?
About 10 minutes in store. Staff activate the SIM, check it works in your phone, and make sure your data is running before you leave. Activation is free in store, and there is no credit check and no contract.
Keep planning
Staying longer than a holiday?
If your Calgary trip is turning into a move or a semester, these pages cover the longer-stay version of the same 10-minute setup.
01
New to Calgary? Get a Canadian SIM in 10 minutes
What to bring, what it costs, and how the in-store setup works — written for newcomers, students, and visitors alike.
02
SIM cards for international students in Calgary
Arriving for a semester or a full program? Student-friendly prepaid options, yearly plans, and what to bring instead of a credit history.
03
Phone plans for newcomers to Calgary
Making Calgary home? How prepaid works while you build Canadian credit, and how to keep your number as you settle in.
04
Compare all Chatr prepaid plans
The full plan table — every monthly and yearly option, with Auto-Pay bonuses already counted in the data totals.
Reserve your SIM
Reserve before you fly. Pick up when you land.
Choose a plan and a store, and we’ll put a SIM aside for you. There’s no payment online — you pay in store when you collect it, and staff activate it with you there in about 10 minutes.
The form defaults to TD Core downtown, a handy pick-up point for visitors — Hunterhorn Plaza and Forest Lawn are in the list too. Don’t forget your passport and your unlocked phone on pick-up day.